AddUp, a French manufacturer of metal additive-manufacturing (AM) machines and production lines, has acquired the French AM machine producer BeAM — a Strasbourg-based firm specialising in directed-energy deposition technology that is focused on the production of large and highly complex parts, feature addition and component refurbishment (including the repair of aero-engine parts).

AddUp is represented in the UK, Ireland and the Middle East by Gosport-based Geo Kingsbury (www.geokingsbury.com).

Based in Clermont-Ferrand, AddUp was formed as a joint-venture company by Fives Group and Michelin in 2016; with a US subsidiary, it now employs over 180 people world-wide — including 100 engineers working on the development of new AM solutions.

BeAM, which was created four years earlier, has subsidiaries in Cincinnati and Singapore and employs more than 45 people.

It has a broad range of customers (in France and other countries), particularly in the aerospace,
defence and energy sectors.

Vincent Ferreiro, AddUp’s CEO said: “Together, BeAM and AddUp will be uniquely positioned in the 3-D printing market by offering customers a comprehensive range of metal AM solutions, with a particular focus on training, consulting and the production of parts for proof of concept.”

Vincent Gillet, BeAM’s CEO, said: “BeAM was at a key stage in its development, with the broadening of its product line and geographical expansion.

“The ‘arrival’ of AddUp and its shareholders, Fives and Michelin, enables us to secure BeAM’s future development — and benefit from their industrial expertise and the pooling of our respective resources.”